Pharmacy Tech Certificate Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Prescott Valley Arizona

Having made the decision to earn your pharmacy technician degree or certificate near Prescott Valley AZ, you might be wondering just how to choose the right college to receive your education and training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? When looking for pharmacy technician schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While tuition and location are significant factors when choosing a college, they are not the sole ones. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. And if you prefer attending classes in your home by means of your computer as opposed to in a classroom, then searching for an accredited online program will also be part of your vetting process. We will address these qualifiers and some others that you will want to include when comparing pharmacy technician schools. But first, let's discuss what a pharmacy tech does, the degree and certification options available, and the benefits of online classes.

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Pharmacy Tech Job Description

Pharmacy techs have multiple job functions, but their primary responsibility is to dispense prescription medications. Because they are not licensed, when filling prescriptions they must operate under the supervision of a licensed Prescott Valley AZ pharmacist. They must also have great customer service skills because they will be interacting directly with customers. Their attention to detail must be accurate when preparing prescription medications per the pharmacist's instructions. And they must have a comprehensive knowledge of pharmaceutical terminology so that they may help customers with understanding directions for their medications in addition to other pharmaceutical information and literature. However, under no situation should they ever provide medical advice regarding prescriptions or anything else. All such questions would be handled by the pharmacist. Some of the regular daily tasks a pharmacy technician may perform are:

• Welcome and help customers with prescriptions and other questions
• Prepare prescription medications under pharmacist supervision
• Add customer and prescription data into pharmacy computer system
• Phone customers when their prescriptions are prepared for pick-up
• Fill out and submit customer insurance claim forms
• Re-supply shelves and audit and manage inventory

As a consequence of their job, pharmacy technicians will spend the majority of their working day standing. And working weekends and evenings is also typical, especially for newer techs with low seniority. But the reward for occasional tired and aching feet or occasionally having to work after hours is a very fulfilling career helping customers with their health and wellness.

Pharmacy Tech Degrees and Certificates

Individuals wishing to enroll in a pharmacy technician program are qualified provided that they have a high school diploma or equivalent. There are generally two alternatives to training to be a tech regardless if you enroll in a community college or a vocational school. The first is to attain a certificate or a diploma, which typically can be accomplished in a year or less. These programs offer an overview to the various elements of pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology and usually include lab and classroom training. Many programs also require an internship at an accepted Prescott Valley AZ pharmacy or other facility. The second alternative is the Associate Degree program which usually takes about two years of studies. Although not required for most entry level positions, it does furnish a more comprehensive education and opens doors to more advanced positions or education down the road. Each program can furnish the proper level of training to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination should the graduate choose to get certified.

Pharmacy Tech Certifications Offered

It is not required to earn certification in all states, but many graduates of pharmacy tech programs opt to get certified in order to be more qualified in the job market. Additionally, many Prescott Valley AZ pharmacies will only hire a technician that has earned certification. There are two organizations that offer certification:

• National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).

The NHA requires that the candidate be 18 years or older, has graduated from high school, has completed a training program, and has at least one year of work experience. The PTCB only requires that the candidate has a high school diploma and passes their examination. Recertification is required every two years by each program, which may be satisfied by performing 20 hours of continuing education.

Pharmacy Tech Online Classes

Before deciding on a pharmacy technician online college, it's important to understand that the majority of programs do require that a substantial part of the training be conducted in a clinical environment. This is usually fulfilled in a local Prescott Valley pharmacy or hospital through an internship program. Students often will have the opportunity to work under an experienced pharmacy tech so as to get some work place experience. Fortunately the balance or non-clinical training may be accessed over the internet in your Prescott Valley AZ home or via any available computer. This alternative is more convenient for most students, especially for those who keep working while acquiring their certificate or degree. And online schools are frequently less expensive than classroom options. Tuition and expenses for driving and course materials can be reduced substantially. With both the clinical and the online training, a comprehensive education is provided. But not all online programs are accredited, which is essential for securing employment and certification (more on accreditation later). So check that each online school you are looking at is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, for instance the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). If you are dedicated enough to study with a less formal type of education, then online classes might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pharmacy Technician Colleges

After you have determined whether you would like to attain a certificate or degree, and if you prefer to enroll in an online program or attend classes on campus, you can start to narrow your school options. There are numerous pharmacist tech colleges to choose from in the Prescott Valley AZ area and throughout the United States, so you must create a list of qualifying questions so that you can contrast colleges and vocational schools. As we addressed in our introduction, you will undoubtedly first start looking for colleges that are within both your financial resources and commuting distance from your Prescott Valley residence. If you are willing to move or are have decided to enroll in an online pharmacy tech college, then location may not be critical. But there are several other issues that you should take into consideration so that you may adequately compare colleges. The questions below will help you in collecting that information and help you to make your ultimate choice.

Is the Pharmacy Tech Program Accredited? The majority of pharmacist technician programs and trade schools have acquired a regional or national accreditation. Among the most respected accrediting organizations is the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Programs earning accreditation from the ASHP have been evaluated and verified to provide a comprehensive quality education. Online schools may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council, which deals solely with online or distance education. Be sure to check that the degree or certificate program as well as the school you pick are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, certification may require that the program of training is accredited. And many Prescott Valley AZ employers will only hire entry level employees that have earned a degree from an accredited school.

Does the College Prep You for Certification? Certification is not required in every state, but a number of employers prefer that the techs they hire are certified. The pharmacy tech school should prepare its students to pass the PTCB or the NHA exam. Students interested in obtaining NHA certification will also need 1 year of work experience. This qualification may be fulfilled by taking part in a college sponsored internship program.

Does the School Provide Internship Programs? As we previously discussed, the NHA mandates 1 year of professional experience for certification, which can be met by means of an internship program. Perhaps the best way to get hands on clinical experience as a pharmacy technician is to train out in the field. Most pharmacy technician degree or certificate programs also require clinical training in order to graduate and an internship is an excellent way to satisfy the requirement. Check if the programs have associations with Prescott Valley AZ area pharmacies, hospitals, or clinics for internship programs.

Does the School Offer Job Placement Help? Securing that initial job in Prescott Valley AZ after graduation, especially with no experience, can be a difficult endeavor without any support. Find out if the colleges you are considering have job placement programs. If they do, find out what their job placement rates are. A higher job placement rate is an indicator that the school has an excellent reputation within the profession generating appeal for its graduates. It also indicates that it has a large network of employer relationships where it can place graduates.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the college they select will need to be within travelling distance of their Prescott Valley AZ home. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the pharmacist tech program you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Prescott Valley AZ area, confirm that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Prescott Valley

Choose the Best Prescott Valley Pharmacy Tech Program

Finding the right pharmacy tech training is an important first step to launching your career in a fulfilling occupation where helping customers with their wellness is your objective. In the past, most pharmacy technicians were taught "on the job". Nowadays, the majority of pharmacists can no longer afford to do this and place a higher importance on hiring formally trained technicians. Training is offered by trade schools, vocational and technical colleges, as well as community colleges. The majority of pharmacy tech schools include both clinical and classroom training. As we have addressed in this article, it's important to choose a program that is accredited and will prep you for certification. This is true both for online classes and for those attended on campus. If you make use of our additional tips you will be able to compare schools so that you are sure to make the ideal choice. With the appropriate training and dedication you can reach your goal to become a pharmacy technician in Prescott Valley Arizona.

 

Prescott Valley Pharmacy Tech Schools Online | Prescott Valley Pharmacy Technician Certificate